Post-Game Talk: NJ drops another one in NC

[Semak]

Here's the deal folks:

I'm as POed as everyone here. Compounded by the fact that it's pouring rain here and my inline practice was canceled

BUT...

- This is the PST thread, keep the discussion to the game and the team's play.

- Trade proposals, real or facetious, go in the Trade Spec Thread

- No single word, useless post or smileys only posts

- Absolutely no Flaming!

Failure to comply will lead to thread bans and infractions with no warnings!

Click to read more...

 

[glenwo2]

Hey Semak, I have a question :


What made you decide to get back into enforcing the "law" here?

It's been awhile. lol.




Anyway, just another plain pathetic effort tonight by the 'D'.

I don't know what will fix this team at this point, tbh.

 

[rtr1105]

Good: Loktionov, Kovy, Carter, Bernier, Zids

Bad: Clarkson

Ugly: Zajac, Poni, defense in front of net and in slot


I know on the NJD boards we generally don't do GBU posts but whatever.

 

[CerebralGenesis]

I feel like we are handling this well

 

[glenwo2]

^ Oh yeah. We're cool as cucumbers in a salad.




I don't know what else could be done at this point.


Starting No-Han the next game even after his meltdown tonight is just plain idiotic.

But aside from that, what else is left to say except the PLayers have to play better.

 

[Semak]

Hey Semak, I have a question :


What made you decide to get back into enforcing the "law" here?

It's been awhile. lol.

Anyway, just another plain pathetic effort tonight by the 'D'.

I don't know what will fix this team at this point, tbh.

Don't know what you're getting at or the level of sarcasm is escaping me but not the time to bust my chops.

I feel like we are handling this well

In reality, we are not. A lot more going on behind the scenes unfortunately for me

 

[rtr1105]

^ Oh yeah. We're cool as cucumbers in a salad.




I don't know what else could be done at this point.


Starting No-Han the next game even after his meltdown tonight is just plain idiotic.

But aside from that, what else is left to say except the PLayers have to play better.

I agree that Johan has to sit. I know that especially tonight the D gave him no help in the slot, but he's just been bad overall. At this point in his career, he's a backup a that's it. Just because our only backups are rookies doesn't mean they can't start. I know as Devils fans with Marty in net for 20 straight years we may be spoiled with expecting good goalies at all times in net, but Moose needs rest.

 

[NJDevs26]

I still maintain what I said after the second period, I have zero confidence in this team making the playoffs. Less than zero with each game Pete becomes more and more stubborn and Lou doesn't alleviate the defensive merry-go-round.

Our second futile, far short rally in a week doesn't convince me they can build off of the third period, they weren't able to build off the last futile third-period rally or an actual rally for a WIN.

 

[Cheddabombs]

Like it's been said many times before, this team misses Marty and Zubes more than anything right now. Management can try to replace their play, and the players that fill their roles could do a just as good or even better job. However, their leadership and presence in the locker room has a massive effect on this teams' performance. It's through stretches like these that they would be able to keep the room calm and ensure that the worst, which we are seeing right now, doesn't happen. This applies to Marty more than Zubes but still I'm sure they're missing Zubes pre-game music too

There are still many leaders on this team but none with the pedigree of Marty and none that players would look up to more than him. His absence, coupled with the below average performance of this roster right now, is this the downfall of the Devils right now.

 

[NJDevs26]

The fact that so much of this gets attributed to Marty's loss is truly mind-boggling considering we lost Marty in 2009 and won a division title. And we were supposed to have a 'better' backup this year.

 

[JK3]

Per TG: It’s been almost four weeks since they played a complete game where they led and played in control through three periods.

 

[BrodeursCups]

Anger has turned to acceptance. It's just not a good team right now and there's no fluffing that one.

One thing that really grinds me is that, throughout this streak, none of our top players have stepped up and really gotten angry. No one has raged and put the team on their back and carried us to a win. I'm not asking for a 5pt night out of someone, I'm talking about someone playing with fire, dominating the ice and refusing to lose for all 60 minutes. Taking over the game. Every single one of our best players went cold and there's nothing you, I, Deboer, Lou, Hells kitchen, Tedenby, Bergfors, Skoula, the homeless man outside the rock, Niedermayer's mom, etc can do about it. No one can go out there, hold their sticks for them and help them play better/finish chances. It's going to have to come from that room.

Entering the season whether you thought this team was a contender or not, there was no denying that the talent is there for them to make the playoffs and at least be a tough out. We finally had a formidable 4th line, Henrique was only going to get better, Larsson and JJ were a year older, etc. There was a lot to like. And after the sweep of Pittsburgh that weekend we were on top of the world. Zubrus going down was tough because of all he brings, but Brodeur being out killed us. Moose is what he is right now and he's being asked to do something he's incapable of. Couple that with the atrocious play in the Defensive zone and you get to where we are now.

No matter which way you slice it there's still a lot of talent in that room and some damn good leadership. They are better than this and they have 23 games left to right the ship. How long can this many talented forwards stay cold for?

 

[Emperoreddy]

Simple. We miss Marty for all the things he brings on and off the ice.

Moose showed Thursday he is still a good back up. He showed today he can't handle this much work though. If Pete is doing anything wrong its not giving Moose a night off or two. Get how it's risky to throw untested rookies out there but Moose needs rest.

We also really can't handle any shuffling of the pairings as things always seem to go to hell in a hand basket for a few games when that happens.

Effort was there though so if anyone says they aren't trying is off base. Still this royally sucks.

Staying in the optimism train. Win tomorrow and that's 2 out of the last 3 with a few days off for the Flyers so just win tomorrow.

Also slump or no slump but that building is just a house of horrors. Hate Carolina.

 

[Uli Hiemer]

The fact that so much of this gets attributed to Marty's loss is truly mind-boggling considering we lost Marty in 2009 and won a division title. And we were supposed to have a 'better' backup this year.

It's definitely move than him.

The defense, the offense....it's all just really really bad.

Edit: Record against the Southeast

Wash 2-1
Carolina 0-2
Jets 0-2
Tampa 1-1
Florida- no games yet

this is just amazing.

 

[Volodya Krutov]

If we lose tonight and Rangers win, we'll be for the 1st time this season out of the playoffs picture.

I still believe in this team they can do great things but there's a lot of problem to fix now :

- It's a complete break can't bend defence. It's the most alarming issue.
-Too many key players are underachieving. F that and show some pride, let's start to crash some net.
-Goaltending
-PK over-committing
- Giving up the 1st goal every single game.
-Real lack of opportunism. It is hockey 101 to turn a goalie hot.

 

[Nick0930]

Moose showed Thursday he is still a good back up. He showed today he can't handle this much work though. If Pete is doing anything wrong its not giving Moose a night off or two. Get how it's risky to throw untested rookies out there but Moose needs rest.

Exactly. He'll likely be starting his 7th game in 11 days tomorrow, which is just wrong for a 39 year old backup. Not even Marty would've started in all these games. Is a tired Moose really a better option than a fresh rookie?

 

[NJDevs26]

Exactly. He'll likely be starting his 7th game in 11 days tomorrow, which is just wrong for a 39 year old backup. Not even Marty would've started in all these games. Is a tired Moose really a better option than a fresh rookie?

It's okay, he had two whole periods of rest in those games because Pete wanted to keep him fresh

The overplaying of an ice-cold Moose who has a dark cloud over his head is the most mind-boggling thing I've ever seen any coach do in some time.

 

[Richer's Ghost]

Someone asked if we hit rock bottom yet...

No, that happens when we hear Marty is having back surgery and will not play any more this season.

 

[Colin226]

The one part of our offense that I believe needs to change is our approach to getting the puck on net.. We keep throwing it back up to the point, which worked well late last year, but it seems like teams either catch on and deflect those passes or they block the shots from the point

We need more guys cutting to the net with passers getting the puck there.. Good things happen when the puck is constantly on net.. It's also hard for D to keep their eye on a puck in the corner or behind the net while also maintaining awareness of the players cutting in

Pete is a smart coach.. We all know this from last season.. He is just being a little stubborn right now with his mindset of "it worked last season so lets just keep beating the square peg into the round hole".. Minor things like getting more pucks to the front of the net could really help this team offensively.. It's just not happening from the point and we need to adjust a bit

 

[NJDevs26]

At this point I'm starting to think we should do something kooky like signing Marty Turco or another vet goalie on the street just so Pete can feel comfortable enough with the guy's resume to give Moose a freaking rest already.

 

[ScottyK]

Someone asked if we hit rock bottom yet...

No, that happens when we hear Marty is having back surgery and will not play any more this season.

That's coming...I'm just waiting for the Marty has a compressed nerve in his spine and needs surgery to release the pressure.

 

[NJDevs26]

That's coming...I'm just waiting for the Marty has a compressed nerve in his spine and needs surgery to release the pressure.

He's probably already had surgery at this point. It's just a matter of when they decide to disclose it.

Marty being out forever is probably a reason Pete's going to die on the Moose hill, he feels he can't count on one of the rookies to carry the load so he needs to get him going because no other option is walking through that door.

 

[Emperoreddy]

It's definitely move than him.

The defense, the offense....it's all just really really bad.

To be fair how much can we really blame the offense tonight? 3 goals should get you at least a point most nights.

Plus when no one plays D and you goalie is off and you bury yourself into that deep a hole.

Not saying it was good mind you but I liked the effort in the attempted come back just to deep a hole.

This one is all on D and Moose. TG said it best. The team left Moose out to dry but at the same time Moose didn't help himself or the team either.

And I agree it's not all Marty being out but it's a lot of it. Moose can't handle this condensed workload by himself and he is shot right now because of it.

Plus Marty is better able to lift the team when we are slumping because he is Marty. His puck handling alone relieves so much pressure on the D alone.

Whole situation sucks but the talent is there and I don't think we should call the season dead yet. We can get in and once in we know anything can happen.

 

[ScottyK]

He's probably already had surgery at this point. It's just a matter of when they decide to disclose it.

Marty being out forever is probably a reason Pete's going to die on the Moose hill, he feels he can't count on one of the rookies to carry the load so he needs to get him going because no other option is walking through that door.

Yeah until it's confirmed that Marty will be out long term it's moose and the rookies for here on out.

 

[ScottyK]

I don't want to say the D is "bad" but I think it's just more exposed...if that makes sense ? If our forecheck gets going again it will do wonders...Marty also starting breakouts will help.